Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Home Theatre Setup suggestions

I have just become the proud owner of a G68ADV and I am seeking suggestions for setting up my home theatre

The room is 3.5m x 4.5m.Set up across the 3.5 end. Carpeted with a 2m ceiling seating 2m from screen 80in diag

I have G68ADV (pre USB), HD621 DSP5000 Mk1 (L/R/C), 2xD1500 subs Passive Spendor rears and B&W sides (floorstanders not an option).

Panasonic PT AE 2000 LCD projector

Sources Panasonic Bluray, Oppo DVD/SACD SkyHD and DVDR

Current setup is 5.1 with the subs set as mono/narrow/flat/2/daisy chained from the c/sub out and placed between the L?r speakers and the centre

I am interested in forum views on 5.1 v7.1

On the best way to use the two D1500 subs

A friend has suggested that the best upgrade path would be to get a DSP 5500HC

Views and suggestions welcome

A few quick comments.

Sitting 2m from the screen is probably too close!
I wouldn't think that going to 7.1 will give you a lot over 5.1 given the room length. The G68 synthesises the side channels anyway and you won't get native 7.1 from BD.
I'm not sure that the 5500HC will give you a lot either. Most people go for these for big improvements to the bass over the 5000s but you have two subs.

I had a 5500HC at one time and if you go for this you should probably sell your two Subs. 5500HC is a powerful beast!

You could physically reconfigure to have one sub supporting each left and right DSP (set the speakers to large and select a layout w/o a sub) and then upgrade the centre to DSP5500HC (which IS powerful) so you have a 7.0 system but with two subs, if you follow me.

I like 7.x vs 5.x and the Meridian algorithm does a nice job of extracting the sides.

And I am a fan of big rear speakers so the bass can be immersive, not sure what your Spendors can do there. I might consider geting some bigger front DSPs (5500/6000/7x00) and migrating the DSP5000s to the rear. This option would free your D1500s to the prevously loved market.

First thing I would do is convert your room from meters to feet

I think your friend gave you great advice on 5500HC.

Then I would move towards all 5ks for the rest and move up the DSP line as budget allows. 4 5k's and 5500HC will sound really really good. But it does get better as you move up the DSP line if you can believe that.

Hi Guys thanks for all the helpful comments.

The room layout door positions,radiators etc mean that I can only have wall mounted rears and sides.

Just to help I have 5500 L/R with a 5k 24/96 centre and ceiling rears in the lounge running off a G91DH and a G61R used mainly for music and casual TV.
One day I played the I Robot DVD and was really impressed with the bass produced in the scene at the beginning where the sky train comes from rear right to centre rear.It was wonderfully palpable and realistic.

Even with the two subs I do not achieve the same quality in my cinema room. Maybe I can't with the kit I have in there.

So I will certainly try Gianni suggestion of having each sub supporting a speaker.

With the G68 could I set it to have a mono sub and a rear sub using the digital rear out as well as the rear analogue and if so would that give a more immersive bass?

The discussion I had with my friend was about getting the biggest bang for bucks.
After listening to my system he felt that the centre was the weakest element.He said that the change from a 5k mk2 to a 5.5k in his system was very significant .
That made sense to me as the centre channel,as far as I understand, carries so much information in a movie.
Like most folk my pocket is limited and before making any further purchase I need to make sure I have got the very best from my system.

Dear George

Nice to hear from you

I did not see your post until I had composed my reply to Gianni.

Thanks for the advice.

Room size length 14.5 feet by 11 feet wide

Last night I was following your Wiki on MRC. I think Meridian should make you an award making the incomprehensible understandable.

Kind regards

Tony

Anthony,

You haven't mentioned this, but are your Mk1 DSP5ks 18-bit or 24-bit? If they are 18-bit then I suggest that you need to upgrade them to 24-bit anything to benefit from apodizing in your HD621.

Could you fit some DSP3100s on wall mounts and go totally DSP throughout?

You could then use the subs with the rears and upgrade your fronts to something beefier.

An option. Get a second DSP5000C to match your first and use them as a side or rear pair. They protrude about 13 inches (just measured mine) from the wall once allowance is made for cable entry. You can mount them quite high for the sides, seven feet worked for me in my 7.0 days using KEF TDM34DS as sides. At the rear I think they should be lower, or tipped down meaning you need some kind of very strong bracket. You can then daisy-chain a sub off them. I like horizontal rears as they don't occupy floor-space and so seem less intrusive.

Now you have used your centre for surround you need to replace it. The DSP5200HC is a good centre, slightly better clarity than a 24/96 DSP5000C ans slightly lighter physically. But it is not a major upgrade. Definately if you want to experience a major upgrade go for the DSP5500HC. You don't need a sub with the DSP5500HC (though I am thinking of trying my D2500 with mine) but you can use a single D1500 as a mono sub to reinforce the front stereo pair; daisy chain off the front L/R SPDIF links, set the L/R pair to large, state no front or mono sub and set the sub switch to the middle setting (IIRC).

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the advice very interesting

5k's are 18bit

I had similar thoughts to Gianni as I have one DSP 33c and as you may well have seen I have posted to see if any one has a Dsp33 for sale. The plan being to used them for rears.
There's one on eBay for �599 which I think is overpriced.

This evening I will try linking fronts and subs as pairs and report back

Cheers

Tony

Tony,

18-bit and 24-bit do not mix, I'm afraid. (Well they do, but only at 18-bit which is rather pointless with your HD621).

The good news is that you were thinking along these lines anyway, so it sort of makes it easier...

Can you swap the 18-bit 5ks for your 5500s and 24/96 5kHC? This way you can use your 18-bit speakers for music whilst you're thinking of what to do next. Not knowing your budget, have you thought of partaking in the current M speaker trade-in with the 18-bit ones?


Agreed. �400 tops IMHO. I did like the idea of running two 5000HCs as rears on the walls. Could you post your kit in your sig? It does help everyone to gauge what could be useful to you.

If you want awesome sound run 4 5K's and 1 5500HC (and optionally your subs).

I can't stress enough how huge an upgrade, upgrading rears from DSP-33 to 5K's was.

I used think 24/96 was absolutely critical.

In MY OWN OPINION, I don't think is any more. Even with an HD621.

HD621's main function is to allow access to that lossless track. Most of those are 6 channels 16bit by 48Khz. The upsampling/apodizing is SMALL compared to the performance of the speakers and allowing access to the lossless track.

Folks are correct that one 18bit speaker will prevent some 24/96 functions in other speakers.

I have measured resolution of 18bit vs 24bit 5k's and 18bit ones reaches 18bits, but 24 bit only reaches 19. You'd have to hear a flea fart to hear the difference.

Sometimes the THEORY and numbers heavily bias your choices.

It has been said many times that the older 18bit DACs have a more musical toe tapping feel to them.

I admit if I had a choice I'd pick 24/96. Mostly because I know they are newer and firmware upgradeable and in some cases better cosmetics (like MK II 5K's). But sound wise on music, 18bits are just as good, if not better. And your whole system won't suffer as much as you might think with 18bit.